Victor Petit was an artist, lithographer and chromolithographer who documented the picturesque architecture and gardens built in and around Paris during the Second Empire. He was also a member of numerous archaelogical associations. Habitations Champêtres was one of four complementary works directed at the newly wealthy and culturally ambitious bourgeoisie of the time: the others were MAISONS DE COMPAGNE DES ENVIRONS DE PARIS, PARCS ET JARDINS DES ENVIRONS DE PARIS, AND PETITES CONSTRUCTIONS PITTORESQUES. In the present work the focus is on the variety of country house styles found in different regions of France and, to a small extent, in England and Italy. The parks, grounds arrangements, garden structures and outbuildings are also depicted. Belvederes, garden pavilions, rustic cabanas and the like are shown along with views of parks such as the Parc de Pinon in Picardie or the Parc du Marchais in Burgundy. Distinctions are made among maisons champêtres, maisons de plaisance, and maisons bourgeoises; all are shown in grounds settings. The work was available from the publishers in simple black and white lithography or in coloured lithography; individual plates could also be ordered separately, either coloured or in black and white. The present copy offers 30 plates in black and white and the remaining 70 hand finished to varying degrees in light color. They offer an interesting contrast to the forceful colors available as shown in sample plates from Petites Constructions and Parcs Et Jardins Des Environs De Paris which are laid in here. Ganay 254, but the Ganay copy does not have the title page. 4to (36.5 x 27 cm) Loose in portfolio, as issued. Partially colored title page + 100 lithographed plates, 70 of which are coloured to varying degrees, 30 are in black and white, plus, 8 coloured lithographed plates,, from PETITES CONSTRUCTIONS PITTORESQUES and one from PARCS ET JARDINS laid in.

Maund was a pharmacist, botanist and bookseller who was most noted as the publisher of several botanical periodicals with colored plates, the most famous of which, THE BOTANIC GARDEN, began in 1825. The FRUITIST appeared as a sequel to that series, although the format of its illustrations differed from the earlier flower plates by presenting a single subject per page instead of four. These delicately hand-colored wood engravings depict a variety of fruits placed above their printed descriptions and framed within an elaborate printed border. Included are 34 apples, 24 pears, 6 plums, 3 gooseberries and 7 other fruits. In the present volume the fruits have been grouped by type, with varieties placed in alphabetical order, rather than in the random order in which they were originally received by subscribers. 4to (21 x 17.5 cm); (iv) + engraved title + 72 leaves each with a hand-colored wood engraving of a specimen of fruit.